Device for administering medicaments



E. F. ELLZEY July 28, 1931.

DEVICE FOR ADMINISTERING MEDICAMENTS Filed July 16, 1927 Patented July 19u-31 l,uN-11151) STATES' PATENT" OFFICE ESCO F. ELLZEY, OE BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNCR TO NATIONAL 6c CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION Ol' NEW YORK DEVICE FOB ADMINISTERING. MEDICAMENTS Application led July 16,

This invention relates to an. improved composite pellet for the oral administration of such medicamentsas are sensitive to the contents of the stomach, and more particularly, for the administration of tetraiodophenol hthalein in a form capable of assimilation by the walls of the duodenum.

The oral administration of ,tetraiodophenolphthalein, which substance is valu- 10 able in cholecystography, has been accompanied by many diliiculties, because of its reaction with the acids of the stomach.

The sodium salt of tetraiodophenolphthalein is readily soluble in water but in the presence of mineral acids, such as hydrochloric acid, the free acid of the tetraiodcphenolplithalein which is very insoluble in water, is'v orme If the sodium salt is ad- ,miii'istered orally as for example in a plain gelatin capsule, the acid gastric juice of the h stomach permeates the capsule and converts the salt into-the insoluble free acid, a film of which forms around the periphery of the dye. This film retains -the general contour of the capsule and is quite hard iii consistency. Upon passing into the duodenum, these capsule rshaped'masses of the free acid are not all changed into the soluble salt by the alkaline intestinal juices, only a very small amount of the free acid being converted and available for absorption. Y

It has 'been found that the diiiculties in administering such substances may be substantially eliminated by the use of a' double walled shell or capsule as shown in the accompanying drawings2 in which Fig. l is a cross-section of one form of the invention, i

Fig. 42 a cross section of another form of the invention, and v Fig. 3 a horizontal section on the line 3--3 lIn the drawings, wherein like reference ligures designate corresponding parts', 1 is a 45' capsule containing a medicament 2 and surrounded by a second ca sule 3. In the stornach, capsule B'may bel dissolved but the inner capsule 1 will pass in to the intestines substantiall unaltered.

5, If a p ysiologically harmless alkaline ma- 1927. seal 1ro. 206,182.

terial is placed in the annular space between the inner capsule 1 and the outercapsule 3, as shown at 4, Figs. 2 and 3, still further pro' tection is afforded the medicament contained in the inner capsule. The layer of alkaline material surrounding the inner or 'central core or capsule containing the medicament is l adapted to maintain it in an unaltered condi-` tion by preventin or hindering the acid gastric juice of t e stomach' from disintegrating it, and in consequence the capsulev passes on to the Vintestinal tract where it is dissolved by the alkaline intestinal liuids. As suitable alkaline material placed inthe space between the inner and outer capsule may be mentioned, for example, the alkali' metal carbonates such as sodium bicarbonate and other compounds such as sodium borate, magnesium oxide, etc.

Thecapsules may be made of gelatine or any other' material which is physiologically harmless and dissolves or disintegrates in the digestive-tract, such as starch, and any desirable shape or form of capsule may be used.

It is obvious that changes in size, proportion, material andminor points may be made without departing from the spirit vand scope of the appended claims.

It willbe obvious that any suitable intestinal medicaments may be ein loyed inv accordance with the invention in pllaice ofthe speciic material above referred-to.

Byway of further example, other organic intestinal medicaments which might be used, embodying my invention, are:

Alkali metal salts of benzoic acid.

Alkali metal salts of salicylic acid.

. Cincophen.

Other materials or medicaments which-\ 90 might be used in accordance with my invention will be apparent to physicians and others skilled in the art without further illustration.

I claim: Y

1. An improved composite pellet for oral 95 administration oforganic medicaments for intestinal treatment which are alterable byv the luids vof the stomach which comprises an inner l'shell of a material soluble in the `intestinal fluid containing the intestinal .organic administrationv of intestinal organic medica` medicament and an innocuous alkaline material surrounding the shell of suicient thicknessto protect the capsule during its passage through the stomach.

2. An improved composite pellet for oral administratlon of organic medicaments for intestinal treatment which are alterable by the iuids of the stomach which comprises a double shell casule of a-'material soluble in the intestinal uid', having the inner shell containing the intestinal organic medicament and an innocuous alkaline material soluble in the stomach fluids between the shells of suiicient thickness to protect the inner shell durin its passage through the stomach.

3. n improved composite pellet for oral ments which are alterable by the fluids of the stomach which comprises an inner shell soluble in the intestinal uid containing a sodium compound of tetraiodophenolphthalein and a layer of sodium bicarbonate surrounding said shell of suiicient thickness tov protect the inner shell during its passagelthrough the stomach.

testimony whereof I aiix my signature. ESCO F. ELLZEY.' 

